Katherine (Banks) Isham (abt. 1627 - bef. 1686)

Born about 1627 in Canterbury, Kent, England

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph Royall — married 1641 in Henrico County, Colony of Virginia

Wife of Henry Isham Sr. — married about 1659 in Henrico County, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 1 Dec 1686 before about age 59 in Henrico County, Virginia Colony

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Biography

Katherine (Banks) Isham was born in Kent, England.

Katherine (Banks) Isham was a Virginia colonist.

GrGrGrandmother of Thomas Jefferson 3rd US President

Father: Christopher BANKS^[1]

Katherine BANKS and Joseph ROYALL^[1] Jr were married about 1645 in Henrico, Virginia. In 1642, he (Capt Joseph Royall Jr) received 600 more acres for transporting twelve people, including his third (to be) wife, Katherine Banks. This plot bounded the lands of Edward Maddox, "above Shirley hundred ac, on the river, to Dickinsons Creeke." His plantation eventually grew to 1,100 acres, and he built a residence called Doghams, named after the French river D'Augham. This tract of land remained in the possession of the Royall Family for about 300 years.

First marriage & children: Joseph ROYALL Jr (ca. 1600 - 1655), and Katherine BANKS were married circa 1641 in, Henrico, VA.

1. Elizabeth (Royall) Archer (b. 1642 - d. 1704)
   
2. Katherine Ann (Royall) Perrin b. 1643 - d.1686
   
3. Sarah (Royall) Wilkinson ( - 1689)
   
4. Margaret Thomasin (Royall) Dennis-Maschall b. 1645 - d. 1677
   
5. Joseph Royall (1646-1732)
   

After Joseph Royall died, Katherine (Banks) next married Captain Henry Isham of Northamptonshire, who had migrated to Virginia circa 1656.^[1]

Children by Henry Isham (1628 - 1678) and Katherine BANKS^[2]

1. Captain Henry ISHAM Jr^[1]
2. Anne ISHAM, m. Francis Eppes^[1]
3. Mary ISHAM, m. Colonel William Randolph^[1]

Will

Will and death: Her will date was 10 Oct 1686, and it was proved 1 Dec 1686 (age 59), Bermuda Hundred, (Turkey Island), Henrico County Virginia^[1]

Burial: Randolph Family Cemetery, Presque Isle, Henrico County, Virginia. (Refer also to: Find A Grave: Memorial #6537631 for Katherine Banks Royall Isham.)

The Will of Katherine Isham

1686 Henrico Co., VA: (original spelling and punctuation)

In the name of God amen. I KATHERINE ISHAM being sick & weak of body but of sound & pfect mind & memory (praise be therefore given to almighty god to make and ordain this my last will & testament in manner & form following -

First, I principally commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merits of my Savior Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and my body I commit to the earth to be decently burried at ye descretion of my Extr, hereafter named. And as the disposition of all such temporall as it hath plesed Almight God to bestow upon me I give and dispose of as follows:

First Item, I will all my debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged. I give to my grandson William Randolph 20 pound sterling money of England such is not in the custody of my son-in-law William Randolph to be disposed of after my decease for the proper use & benefit of my grandson above named, but in case of his mortality before he comes to age, then I give & bequeath unto my grandson Henry Randolph the 20 pound sterling money about to be disposed as above said for his proper use and further I give to my grandson Henry Randolph five pds. sterling money of England and to my Granddaughters Mary Randolph & Elisa Randolph five pounds a piece of like sterling money all such money above specified is now in the custody of my son-in-law William Randolph. And further I give the residue of my mony such is in custody of my son-in-law William Randolph to my two daughters, Mary Randolph and Ann Epes to be equally divided. I also will that my claw trunk with all that is in it be equally divided between my two daughters Mary Randolph and Ann Epes and I give to each of them two silver saltcellars. And to Mary Randolph I give my wedding ring and best feather bed and furniture to it and my 'least silver tankard but one and fifteen shillings to buy a mourning ring and desire the said Mary Randolph may be exempt from bearing any part of paying my debts or funeral charges. And this is all my legacy to my loveing daughter, Mary Randolph.

Item, I give to my grandson Joseph Royall one servant named John Johns all the time he hath to serve and my small silver tankard. And further I give to [each] child of my son Royall's two silver spoons. And to my loveing son, Joseph Royall the last tankard.

Item, I give to my grandson Richard Dennis one of my best cows and two silver spoons.

Item, I give to my grandson, Isham Epes, my Negro Dick and to my Grandson Francis Epes, my biggest silver tankard but one. I also give to the child my daughter Ann Epes now goes with my largest silver Porringer and great silver cupp. My sealed ring and great hoop ring with a pair of silver clasps and silver bodkin I give to my daughter, Anne Epes.

Item, I give to my Grandson Richard Perrin, one feather bed and furniture to it.

Item, I give to my granddaughter Sarah Royall one yearling heifer.

Item, I give to my granddaughters Katherine Farrar, Mary, Sarah & Anne Perrin to each of them two silver spoons. And to Katherine Farrar one Guiney and to Anne Perrin one silver porringer.

Item, I give to my granddaughter, Sarah Dennis two silver spoons and one pair of dowlass sheets. And to my two daughters Sarah Wilkinson and Katherine Perrin all my wearing cloths woolen and linnen.

Item, I give to my loveing friend Mary Parker six Ells of my best dowless and as much of my finest serge as will make her a gown and petticoat.

Item, I give to my grandson Maiden Marshall one heifer two years old. Item, I will and bequeath all my land to my son, Joseph Royall to him and to his heirs forever.

Item, I give my whole crop of corn and tobacco to my executors hereafter named except for much as will buy two gravestones, one to cover me and the other my departed dear husband. All the rest and residue of my estate and estate goods and chattels, Sarah Wilkinson, Joseph Royall, Katherine Perrin and Anne Epes and to each of them fifteen shillings to buy a mourning ring.

And I do hereby constitute and appoint my loving son, Joseph Royall and my loving son-in-law, Frances Epes full and sole Exers of this my last will and testament. And I desire my body may be buryed near my dear husband on my own plantation. And I do hereby revoke, disannul and make void all former wills and testaments by me heretofore made and to this my last will and testament do sett my hand and seal this tenth day of Oct Ao Dm 1686

(Will was proved in open Court to be the last Will and Testament of Katherine Banks Royall Isham by the oaths of John Worsham, Nath Hill and Littlebury Epes and was entered amongst the records of ye said county.)

An American Great Grandmother: Katherine Banks

Katherine Banks was born into a prosperous family in Canterbury, England in County Kent in 1627, the same year the Massachusetts Bay Colony had been chartered to colonize the eastern coast of North America. Her father, Christopher Banks, was one of England's most influential commoners in his position with the Old London Company, which financed the settlement of Jamestown and Virginia.

Sometime in the early 1640s, Katherine journeyed to America, landing in Charles City County, west of Jamestown on the James River. It was not long after her arrival that she married her cousin, Joseph Royall, twice a widower and 27 years her senior.

Joseph Royall had come to Jamestown aboard the Charitie in July 1622, just after Powhatan Chief Opechancanough had murdered three hundred and forty-seven colonists. Royall survived "the burning fever," which killed even more settlers. By transporting colonists to Virginia, Joseph Royall was able to accumulate a large plantation, which he called "Doghams" after the French river D'Augham, on the James River above Shirley and opposite current day Hopewell, Virginia. Joseph Royall died in the mid 1650s. As was the custom in those days, his wife's dower from his estate passed to her during her widowhood.

When Katherine married Henry Isham in 1656, Royall's estate passed to Isham, who immediately added another wing to his residence on Bermuda Hundred. From their luxurious home encircled by tall pines and a extensive English flower garden, the Ishams became leaders of Virginia society. It has been said that Katherine Banks Royall Isham was the wealthiest woman in America. Her father gave her one of the first English coaches to be used in the colonies. It was described as cumbrous and capacious. It held six individuals, three on a seat opposite one another. Two others could sit on stools which faced the doors. Its body was hung high on large springs and was entered by steps. The lining was made of cream-colored cloth. Silver trimmings, cords and tassels accented the exquisite exterior. The driver and the footman sat on the front, while luggage was carried in the rear. By her first husband, Katherine gave birth to six children, Joseph, John, Sarah, Katherine and two other unknown daughters. With Captain Henry Isham was born in 1626 in Pytchley, Northampton, England. He died on 1 Dec 1686 in Bermuda Hundred, Henrico, VA. He married Elizabeth Kathrine Banks in 1656 in Henrico, VA., Katherine had Henry Jr and Anne. But by far, her most famous child was Mary Isham. Mary was a much courted belle of Virginia. Suitors swarmed to get a glance of this charming young woman, who played the cittern, a three-stringed early version of the mandolin. Mary captured the heart of the wealthy William Randolph of Turkey Island. Over the next three centuries, the couple would come to be known as "the Adam and Eve of Virginia."

Katherine was known as the wealthiest woman in the Colonies during the 1600s. Katherine is the great grandmother of President Thomas Jefferson, 3G grandmother of Chief Justice John Marshall, and 4G grandmother of General Robert E Lee. Also among her descendants are Preseidents John Fitzgerald Kennedy and James Earl Carter; first lady Edith Eilson; authors William Faulkner, Willa Cather, Robert Penn Warren, and Ray Bradbury; and Booker Talieferro Washington.

Her father, Christopher Banks, financed the Jamestown settlement. The first English coach to come over to the Colonies was the one given to Katherine by her father. It held 6 passengers. It boasted a cream-colored cloth lining, silver trimmings, cords, and tassels, and and exquisitely ornamented exterior.

Presidential Lineage

Katherine Banks-Royall Isham is the second great grandmother of Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States of America^[4]

3. Thomas Jefferson is the son of Jane (Randolph) Jefferson bp. St. Paul’s Church, Shadwell, London 20 Feb. 1720-Monticello 31 Mar. 1776.^[4]

6. Jane Randolph Jefferson is the daughter of Isham Randolph Turkey Island, Henrico Co. Jan. 1685-Dungenss, Goochland Co. Nov. 1742, White Chapel, London c. 1718.^[4]

13. Isham Randolph is the son of Mary (Isham) Randolph c. 1660-post 1713/14^[4]

27. Mary (Isham) Randolph is the daughter of Katherine Banks-Royall Isham of Canterbury, Kent c. 1630; Henrico Co., Va. between 10 Oct. and 1 Dec. 1686, widow of Joseph Royall.^[4]

Research Notes

• The 25 major notable descendants of Katherine Banks-Royall Isham through daughter: Mary Isham and William Randolph,
• The Family History and Genealogy of Arden Gremmert and Eva Doherty
• Katherine Banks (1627-1686) on Wikia
• Elizabeth Katherine BANKS 1627 - before 1st Dec 1686 OBJ Genealogy entry. Edited 10 Oct 2020. Accessed 13 Jan 2021.
• The will is also reproduced and other curator sites can be found at Katherine (Banks) Isham at Geni.com.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Richardson, Douglas. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. 2nd ed. 2011, v. II p. 462 (ISHAM 16). Citing V M H B, 18, 1910, p. 85-6 & Dorman, Adventures of Purse & Person, 3, 2007, p. 43-6.
2. ↑ See also: Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry. Vol III. Page 404.
3. ↑ Reproduced here because the link has changed and may not otherwise be preserved. Probably should be digested, instead of having been reproduced, however.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Roberts, Gary Boyd. Ancestors of American Presidents. 2009 Edition. New England Historic Genealogical Society. Boston, Massachusetts.

• Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study In Colonial And Medieval Families. Vol III. 2013, p. 404. Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Last Will and Testament: Katherine Banks' Will on genforum & alternate link. Abstracted by Benjamin B. Weisiger III, Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia, Part I, 1654-1737 (1976), page 16 (8 of 26, accessed 19 October 2021).
• New England Historic Genealogical Society, Gary Boyd Roberts, The 25 major notable descendants of Katherine Banks-Royall Isham thru daughter: Mary Isham and William Randolph.

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Arik Russell for his contributions toward the development of this profile.
• Thank you to Lynden Castle Rodriguez for her contributions toward the development of this profile.
• Thank you to Jewell Parker for starting this profile on Friday, 12 Sep 2014.